Forefront Team Blog : Forefront Threat Management Gateway

Action by Dec 1 - keep your protection current!

Forefront Blogger — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:08:00 GMT

A reminder from the Forefront Server Security blog.

As we announced on July 1, 2009, Microsoft is revising its engine mix on Dec. 1, 2009 for the Forefront and Antigen products. This change will allow customers to utilize a set of engines that help optimize detection, while also allowing us to invest in new areas for increasing overall protection for customers.

Antimalware Protection

The AhnLab, CA, and Sophos engines will be retired on Dec. 1, 2009. After December 1^st, customers will not receive any updates for these retired engines. In order to make sure your Antigen and Forefront products continue to scan efficiently and effectively for malware, any customers running the AhnLab, CA, or Sophos engines must DISABLE these engines before Dec. 1, 2009 and select from the new set of five engines – Authentium, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norman, and VirusBuster.

SPECIAL NOTE: Antigen for SharePoint 8.0 and Antigen for Instant Messaging 8.0 customers – In order to gain access to the new engine set and provide optimal protection for your messaging and collaboration environments, please download the Service Pack 1 releases of these products on the MVLS or VLSC site prior to Dec. 1, 2009. The updates for the new engine set will use a new update infrastructure as of Dec. 31, 2009 – the Service Pack 1 releases will allow you to continue to receive updates correctly from their new location.

For more information about Service Pack 1 for Antigen for SharePoint and Antigen for IM, see the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/975850/

- SPECIAL NOTE: Antigen for Exchange 8.0 and Antigen for SMTP Gateways 8.0 customers –These products will end of life on Dec. 31, 2009. Customers must upgrade to Antigen 9.0 SP2 for Exchange before this date, as the product will no longer continue to receive anti-malware updates starting Jan. 1, 2010. With the retirement of the CA, Sophos, and AhnLab engines on Dec. 1, customers running Antigen for Exchange 8.0 or Antigen SMTP Gateways 8.0 will only be protected by the Norman engine. For customers who need to continue using this product between Dec. 1, 2009 and the end-of-life date of Dec. 31, 2009, please contact Forefront Contract Administration for access to the revised engine set.

For more information on upgrading your Antigen for Exchange 8.0 or Antigen for SMTP Gateways 8.0 to Antigen 9.0, see the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932396/

Antispam Protection

One of the most important changes in our engine revision strategy is moving to the Cloudmark antispam engine*, which provides 99%+ detection rate and less than 1 in 250,000 false positives (West Coast Labs).

The Mail-Filters SpamCure antispam engine will be retired on Dec. 1, 2009. Customers using Antigen products for antispam protection must upgrade to the latest service pack releases listed below BEFORE DEC. 1, 2009 to maintain their antispam defenses. This is the only way to gain access to the new Cloudmark engine. The service packs can be accessed on the Microsoft MVLS and VLSC sites:

- Antigen for Exchange Server with Antigen Spam Manager 9.0 with SP2

- Antigen for SMTP Gateways with Antigen Spam Manager 9.0 with SP2

For more information on the engine revision strategy, see the Antimalware Engine Notifications and Developments Web page or contact Forefront Contract Administration . Again, we strongly urge all customers to update to the newest service packs before Dec. 1, 2009 to get the full protection benefits of the Forefront and Antigen server products.

*Please note: Customers using Forefront Security for Exchange Server will get access to the Cloudmark engine in the next version release – Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server – scheduled to be available in Q4 CY09.

Brita Jenquin

Sr. Product Manager

Forefront secure messaging screencast & interview

Forefront Blogger — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:15:00 GMT

Cristian Mora Aguilar, Forefront Technical PM, starts off by briefly telling us about Microsoft's secure messaging solution and what business problems it resolves. He then gives us a screencast / demo of some of the cool scenarios enabled and problems solved with the secure messaging solution. Find out how Microsoft products help secure Microsoft Exchange Server.

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Forefront-Secure-Messaging-screencast-and-interview/

Direct Access and UAG video - Deep dive with a Program Manager

Forefront Blogger — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Ben Bernstein and Stephen Bowie tell us what the value is for Forefront Unified Access Gateway (UAG) with Direct Access (DA).

After this, we do a whiteboard of UAG + DA architecture, including explaining how it works with multiple UAG servers. Here's how the rest of the interview breaks down:

How UAG supports legacy IPv4 clients (Marker 3 @ 8:02)

How does the client know to connect to the proper DNS server and not the one from the local ISP? (Marker 4 @ 13:17)

How do we know it's securely talking to the proper DNS server? (Marker 5 @ 15:01)

What other components on UAG enable DA? (Marker 6 @ 16:10)

Additional value add for UAG with DA (Marker 7 @ 17:55)

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Direct-Access-and-UAG-video-Deep-dive-with-a-Program-Manager/

Schedule and Strategy Update for Forefront Endpoint Protection

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Today we are announcing a schedule and strategy update for Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010, a component of the upcoming Forefront Protection Suite (previously codenamed “Stirling.”)

We are delaying the release Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 - anti-malware for Windows desktops and servers - until the second half of 2010. Based on customer feedback and market trends, we have made the strategic decision to build Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) on System Center Configuration Manager, Microsoft’s solution to comprehensively assess, deploy, and update servers, clients, and devices. This approach better aligns our customers’ client management and security infrastructure, helping simplify deployment and reduce costs.

We are confident this is the right decision for our customers. In the interim, we will continue to offer our current Forefront Client Security (FCS) solution, which supports and protects both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. We are developing the necessary tools and guidance to facilitate the future upgrade from Forefront Client Security to Forefront Endpoint Protection and will help customers with the migration process.

We also remain committed to providing integrated management for the Forefront Protection Suite. We will release Forefront Protection Manager in the first half of 2010, as scheduled, providing multi-server management for Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server and Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint. We will provide information about endpoint security management in Forefront Protection Manager at a later time.

We are on track to release all other Forefront products on schedule, as part of our Business Ready Security strategy:

o Fourth quarter 2009: Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server, Forefront Online Protection for Exchange, Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 and Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010

o First half 2010: Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint, Forefront Identity Manager 2010.

The Forefront team

Steve Ballmer on The New Efficiency

Forefront Blogger — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:56:00 GMT

Making business decisions regarding IT investment is tougher than ever. To help, today Microsoft hosted a special VIP Business Leadership Roundtable event. CEO Steve Ballmer and moderator Robert Youngjohns, President of the Microsoft US Subsidiary, discussed major trends in the new role of technology in the workplace. Ballmer and Youngjohns were joined by a panel of early adopter customers representing key industries like automotive, hospitality, transportation and IT. Attendees got a close look at how real companies are making IT investments across the desktop, server, network and beyond.

How IT needs to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated users
The ever more mobile and distributed workforce, and
The impact of greater industry regulations and ongoing threats to data.

Forefront identity and security solutions, and our Business Ready Security strategy, are core parts of the way Microsoft is helping customers tackle these issues. You can view highlights of today's event and get lots of info on the range of Microsoft IT solutions - including a Business Ready Security overview, Secure Messaging, Secure Collaboration, Identity and Access Management and Information Protection at www.TheNewEfficiency.com

Analyst: The market impact of security/identity integration

Forefront Blogger — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:54:00 GMT

Analyst Jon Oltsik of the Enterprise Strategy Group writes a column for Network World called "Networking Nuggets and Security Snippets." Last week he penned an interesting piece titled "The market impact of security/identity integration."

In the article Oltsik describes how governance, compliance and new electronic business processes are driving more alignment of security policy with users, roles and business activities. He goes on to provide his take on who the leaders, challengers, dark horses and question marks are among vendors in this newly converged space. He cites IBM, Microsoft and, tentatively, CA as leaders.

Yes, I'm flagging the story because Jon's take is very much in line with Microsoft's view and strategy. But it's worth a read.

Business Ready Security news at WPC

Forefront Blogger — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:01:00 GMT

This week in New Orleans Microsoft is hosting its annual Worldwide Partner Conference. We made several announcements today at the conference about our identity and security solutions. This news is part of our Business Ready Security strategy to help both partners and customers 1) protect everywhere and access anywhere, 2) integrate and extend security across the enterprise, and 3) simplify the security experience and manage compliance

Official names and pricing for “Stirling”

Forefront codename “Stirling” - the next generation of the Forefront Security Suite for integrated, comprehensive protection across endpoints, servers and the edge – will be officially known as Forefront Protection Suite (FPS).

FPS will include the products in the current suite, plus the Forefront Protection Manager (formerly known as the “Stirling” management console) and the Forefront Threat Management Gateway Web Security Service.

FPS pricing will remain the same as the current Forefront Security Suite and all of the component solutions will continue to be licensed on a subscription basis. They will also be available independently, with Forefront Protection Manager included. (Note that the Forefront Threat Management Gateway license is sold separately on a per processor basis.)

At WPC we are also announcing the following new product solution names:

· Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 - current version is Forefront Client Security

· Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server - current version is Forefront Security for Exchange Server

· Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint - current version is Forefront Security for SharePoint

· Forefront Online Protection for Exchange - currently called Forefront Online Security for Exchange

· Forefront Threat Management Gateway Web Security Service - the next generation of ISA Server 2006.

The new FPS solutions are currently in beta and final versions will ship over the course of the latter half of 2009 and the first half of 2010.

Public beta 2 of Forefront Unified Access Gateway

Forefront Unified Access Gateway beta 2 is available for download at www.microsoft.com/forefront. UAG provides secure, virtually anywhere access to messaging, collaboration and other applications, increasing productivity and policy compliance. UAG also extends the benefits of Windows DirectAccess across the enterprise, enhancing scalability, deployment and management.

Official name for “Geneva”

The three components of Microsoft “Geneva” – the upcoming open platform providing simplified user access and single sign-on for cloud and on-premises applications – have the following names:

· Active Directory Federation Services – formerly known as “Geneva” Server

· Windows Identity Foundation – formerly known as “Geneva” Framework

· Windows Cardspace – same as current version

Partner opportunities

At WPC partners will learn about how the solutions above offer tremendous opportunity to better meet the identity and security needs of customers...and to build their own businesses. Since announcing a $75 million investment in our partner ecosystem at WPC last year, we have seen very strong partner development and growth.

For example, we have seen a 50% increase in participation in the Security Software Advisors (SSA) program, which offers fees to partners who influence deployment. The Security Solutions Competency, which enables partners to differentiate themselves as experts, is one of the fastest growing competencies in Microsoft’s history and in the last year grew 46% in participation. This year we anticipate quadrupling the number of identity and security partners we support with training, marketing and customer engagement.

Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly 'Morro') and Forefront

Forefront Blogger — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:20:00 GMT

Today, Microsoft released a public beta of its new, free consumer anti-malware product codenamed “Morro”, which now has an official product name: Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). This new solution will address the growing need for a PC security solution tailored to the demands of emerging markets. You may remember that “Morro” was originally unveiled back in November 2008 after we announced the discontinuation of retail sales for Windows Live OneCare subscription service effective June 30, 2009. As we described in this blog last year, Microsoft Security Essentials is intended for consumers, not business customers. Microsoft continues to offer security solutions for businesses with the Forefront line of products as part of its Business Ready Security strategy.

It is important to note that MSE will have a very positive impact on Forefront, because it allows Microsoft to capture even more threat intelligence from customers as more people use the free anti-malware solution. We'll be able to use that information to help extend our security research and in the development of signatures and protection capabilities in our Forefront products, which are being deployed by increasing numbers of enterprises today, with thousands of Microsoft security partners certified to sell and deploy Forefront solutions. And, of course, there's an exciting road ahead for Forefront as we release a brand new set of products for this family in our next fiscal year under the codename "Stirling".

Key points about Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE)

· The MSE beta will become available to the first 75,000 visitors to www.microsoft.com/security_essentials starting Tuesday, June 23, 2009. An English language version will be available to beta testers in the U.S. and Israel, and a Brazilian Portuguese version will be available in Brazil. Support for Simplified Chinese in China is scheduled to follow shortly after initial beta release.

· MSE release (RTM) is scheduled for H2 2009 in 10 languages and in the following 20 markets: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.

· MSE will include new protection technology, as part of the Microsoft anti-malware engine, called “Dynamic Signature Service (DSS)” which delivers real-time threat signature updates to the client when it detects something suspicious, whether code or behavior. As we mentioned previously in April, Forefront Client Security 2.0 will also include DSS when it releases in H1 2010.

· MSE is designed for consumers and will be offered as a free download separate from Windows (including Windows 7).

Server & Tools Business Exec discusses state of IT, answers your questions on June 23

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Are you interested in hearing about how other IT pros are reacting to economic conditions and where they’re investing (particularly security?)

Do you have questions about Microsoft’s efforts to help IT be more cost effective and deliver new solutions to business?

Is there a connection between virtualization and cloud computing?

On Tuesday, June 23rd from 10:30am – 11:00am (PDT), join a teleconference with Bob Kelly, corporate VP of Infrastructure Server Marketing. Bob will talk about the state of IT within the context of results from a new Harris Interactive study of 1,200 IT professionals from the U.S., United Kingdom, Japan and Germany. The study was commissioned by Microsoft’s Server & Tools Business. There will be time for your questions following the brief presentation. Submit questions over the phone or you can submit them at any time leading up to or during the teleconference by tweeting with the Twitter hashtag, #qs4ms. If you are interested in attending, please REGISTER NOW. Once you open the invite box, you can save and close to your calendar.

Forefront Threat Management Gateway Beta 3 – Ready for Download!

Forefront Blogger — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:27:00 GMT

Forefront Threat Management Gateway Beta 3 – the last planned beta – is now available to the public for download and evaluation. This marks a big step towards providing a complete Web security solution with the first public preview of our URL filtering capabilities. I want to pose a few questions and answers about where Forefront TMG is going.

So, what makes our URL filtering special? For most companies, there is a physical limit on URL categorization and coverage because it is a manual process. Forefront TMG is leveraging the Microsoft Reputation Services to expand beyond what one company can provide. Instead, MRS aggregates URLs from multiple sources – including but not limited to iFilter, BrightCloud and Marshall8e6 – and determines which is most accurate for categorization. This gives Forefront TMG customers access to URLs from multiple trusted sources but also gives them confidence that the URLs will be accurate categorized. This enables Forefront TMG to expand well beyond where it could if Microsoft only developed its own URL data set, not unlike the added protection benefits of Forefront Security with multiple AV engines.

Why do you want Forefront TMG if you already have URL filtering? Most companies today have some sort of URL filtering. It may be a standalone product plugged into ISA or into a firewall or come as part of a unified threat management product. These solutions represent a compromise. With the first, you give up simplicity of a single vendor solution. With the second, you give up the richness you get from most standalone URL filtering products.

Forefront TMG represents the best of both worlds. It unifies a Web access gateway with URL filtering and antimalware so that you gain the efficiency of a single vendor but also provides functionality well beyond that found in UTMs designed as multi-purpose generic devices. Instead, it can be thought of as “best-of-need”. It provides the security you need with the simplicity you want.

You can find Forefront TMG Beta 3 here.

Bill Jensen

Senior Product Manager

Trial and win!

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:36:00 GMT

Check out the Forefront Trial Download Sweepstakes:

"Don’t miss the chance to win one of three $10,000 Grand Prize server systems for your home, a D-Link DNS-232 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure, or a $50 Best Buy gift card instantly!

Now, through June 30, 2009, every time you download a different Microsoft Forefront trial software product, you’ll help keep your business safe and have a chance to win big in the Microsoft Forefront Trial Download Sweepstakes."

Business Ready Security webcasts

Forefront Blogger — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:25:00 GMT

Register here for a new series of webcasts on the entire lineup of Forefront products supporting the Business Ready Security strategy. Starting tomorrow, webcast topics will include: Forefront Identity Manager, the Forefront "Stirling" security suite and component solutions, Forefront Security for Office Communications Server, Active Directory Rights Management Services, "Geneva," and more.

Forefront Anti-Spam Resource Center

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:04:00 GMT

More than 97% of all email is spam! And it is more than annoying…it also creates the ideal environment for malware attacks and phishing attempts. In response, we have recently launched the Forefront Anti-Spam Resource Center. Visit the site and add it to your favorites to stay up to date on Microsoft’s products, technologies and research to help you mitigate the risks and annoyances of spam in your company.

Below is an interesting graphic on the most common spam topics.

Related to this: Don’t miss this upcoming TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT uses the Exchange Hosted Services to Protect the Messaging Environment

Forefront "Stirling" beta 2

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:53:00 GMT

Last week, as part of introducing the Business Ready Security strategy, we publicly released beta 2 of Forefront codename "Stirling.".

“Stirling” is an integrated security suite that delivers comprehensive protection across endpoint, application servers, and the edge. It also integrates with existing infrastructure software, such as Active Directory, System Center, and Network Access Protection, for better protection and reduced complexity.

Go here to download and evaluate with trial software or pre-configured virtual machines. Below is a video demo worth watching, too. Stay tuned for more info on "Stirling," such as the Security Assessment Sharing capabilities that enable interoperability with partner solutions.

The analysts weigh in

Forefront Blogger — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:46:00 GMT

As part of last week's introduction of our Business Ready Security strategy, we posted several videos of industry analysts John Olstik of the Enterprise Strategy Group and Scott Crawford of Enterprise Management Associates discussing security issues. One is below, but visit this page to view the rest.

The Enterprise Strategy Group also wrote a paper, called "Business Enablement Demands Tight Identity and Security Integration."

Perspectives on Security: Business-ready Security